The Wilmingtonian., 1887-11-05
whar VIII Grow In La Plata County, Col.

| Nhuf w Hi GROW R4H Fihbh SouhAJ "Vt-
1t is possible that, because colony of
fruit growers is desired in connection with
the new movement to establish the town of
Homer, the impression may prevail that the
soil of this section of Colorado is not suit
ed to vegetables and grains. 1t is to correct
this impression that this article is written.
At the exhibition held in Durango at the
time of the visit of the National Editorial
Association there was displayed the finest,
largest and best collection of grains, grasses
and vegetables seen by the editors during
their entire tour. | think DIR. Snitcher will
bear me out in this statement, and will
enumerate some Of the articles known at
that exhibit
White Dent Corn, in stock, eleven feet
high, averaging two ears to the stalk; TWEEN
- acres, grown by L. W. Coe, yielded sew
~ bushels to the acre.
WNeat. Mr.. J. E. EHpcrs"n had samples
lat that yielded 34s bushels from eight
on,' ", D, Taylor exhibited oats that
v,o,dad sixtSs five bushels to the acre
Als.lfa G c h~~pton displayed alfalfa
from seed sown in 1890, san .ploS % ii'SV SUI
ting As inches long; second cuttihss = 'n'l''
long.
Potatoes. Peter Knickerbocker showedS
them potatoes from one hill, weighing ten
pounds, besides several others in the same
hill
Vegetables Frank Downing had fine dis
play; cabbage four feet in circumference,
sunfower eighteen inches across the head,
one squash from the rancho of S. E. Kooug
weighed 1874 pounds, melons 3S pounds,
seven potatoes from one hill, from the ranch
of Morgan Sharp, averaged p pounds each,
a mangol wurtzul 2G inches long and five
inches round. From Jew ett Palmer's ranch
were some fine specimens of rye, potatoes
and other vegetables. Another excellent
display, made by ]. d. Fol- bes, consisted of
squashes, table and cou beets, turnips, egg
plants, caullifowers, tomatoes, cabbage and
all kinds of garden vegetables.
These are but few instances cited to
show that in addition to fruits, all kinds of
garden produce and field crops can be grown
in the section Of country where the colony
proposes to settle. There is nothing expert
mental or uncertain aboutit; the facts prove
that no soil could be. more fertile. more gen
erous in yield.
AS to fruits especially in the line Of
rraprs, there werc on exhibition ftom tho
country south of Durango, one hundred
boxes from one vtneya d, consisting of Con-
cord, Martha and Catawba grapes They
proved that no country--not even California
can beat La Plata county in grape culture.
From experiments have conducted at
Fruta the last two or three years 10 cultiva-
ting the California varieties Of grapes l have
reason to believe that such varieties as the
Charselas, Sweet Water, Tokay, Black Ham
burgh, Irontignam will succeed in La Plata
j., county.
1t might interest the women to know that
bees thrive in Colorado. A Mrs Locke
!. sterted in last spring with 81 hives of bees.
Since then she has sold five hives, has 81
left and 1900 pounds of honey. Colorado
honey is the finest in tho world. l have a
few hives of bees myself and for years en-
ioyed the luscious product of the busy bees
:, Not wishing to make this article too long
forbear further mention of the many ex
es hibits of grains, grasses, fruits and vegeta.
a bles shown last month in Durang. This i
rg no fancy drawn picture, as the editor of thu
WILMtNGToNIAN can testify; having seel
with his own eyes the exhibit mentioned.
When, in addition to this certainty O
al abundant crops of all kinds, there is takei
Oh into consideration the fact that tG0 acres o
o. land can be had from the Government unde
Gil the homestt al and the pre-emptive laws, fo
each colonist, aud the additional fact tina
the climate is the most superb in the world
who is there contemplating a change of res
th deuce which is to better him and his in th
mi way Of health and wealth, who will hesitat
=, to Join the Homer Colony? Fifty member
will ensure success at the start.
~ WM Il. PAnoR,
of Fruita, Colo
t %
;oh The Good Work not all Done.